Choosing the Best Coffee Maker and Best Espresso Machine
With so many coffee makers and espresso machines on the market, which do you choose? That depends on how frequently you plan to use it, the number of cups you typically serve and your budget. From a single-serve coffee maker to an automatic espresso machine, we’ll show you a range of units to fit your needs.
Coffee Maker Features
Coffee makers have advanced beyond the percolators and automatic drip coffee makers of decades ago. Today, coffee makers come packed with an array of features.
- Selective capacity lets you choose how much coffee you want to brew. Single-serve pod coffee makers are great for those who only want an occasional cup of coffee from time to time. For multiple-cup coffee makers, brewing capacity can reach up to 14 cups for residential use, and commercial coffee urns have an even higher capacity, from 30 to 100 cups.
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Automatic shut-off turns the burner off after a set amount of time, which helps reduce the chance of burnt coffee.
- A removable water tank is a reservoir that’s easy to fill and, because it’s removable, easier to clean.
- A water level indicator shows you how much water’s in the reservoir.
- Programmable mode lets you preset a coffee brew time — up to 24 hours in some models — as well as the amount of coffee needed and even the auto shut-off time.
- Warming mode includes a plate that, depending on the coffee maker model, keeps the coffee warm for two to four hours.
- Pause/interrupt allows you to stop the brew process before it’s complete.
Types of Coffee Makers
With so many types of coffee makers available, it can be difficult to choose the best coffee maker for your kitchen. Just as there are different ways to make coffee, so too are there different types of coffee makers, each providing a distinct taste, from the bold flavor of coffee from a percolator to the creamy smoothness of French press coffee.
Drip Coffee Makers
Drip coffee makers are kitchen staples in many homes. Drip coffee is a type of brewed coffee that gets its name from the process of heating water to create steam, which then makes its way to the drip area where it’s dispensed. The water flows through coffee grounds and a filter where it’s collected in a carafe. Drip coffee makers use either ground coffee or coffee pads.
What Sizes Do Drip Coffee Makers Come In?
Full-size drip coffee makers typically brew 8 to 12 cups of coffee, while smaller units make 4-5 cups.
How Much Does a Drip Coffee Maker Cost?
You can find drip coffee makers at a wide range of price points, anywhere from around $30 to hundreds of dollars, depending on your budget.
What Are the Benefits of a Drip Coffee Maker?
These coffee makers are easy to use and are often programmable so you can set your machine up to brew a fresh pot of coffee when you wake up in the morning.
What Maintenance Does a Drip Coffee Maker Need?
When it comes to maintaining a drip coffee machine, there are daily and monthly cleaning routines to keep in mind. You'll want to clean the carafe with soap and water and dump the used coffee grounds every day. Every month, clean your coffee machine by running white vinegar through a brewing process and then rinsing out the vinegar by running a few more brewing cycles with just water.
Percolators
If bold, robust coffee is your pleasure, a percolator is a great choice. Because the water gets extremely hot and coffee is continuously brewed, the longer percolated coffee brews, the stronger the flavor. Percolators are available as stove-top models or plug-in units. You can also use a percolator on a camping excursion. You just need coffee grounds, clean water and a heat source such as a campfire.
French Press Coffee Makers
A French press is a manual brewing method that utilizes a plunger and built-in filter screen to press fresh ground coffee beans. A French press coffee maker is portable and gives you more control over your coffee flavor. While using a French press may be more labor-intensive than using other types of coffee makers, the aroma and coffee oils that aren’t trapped by a traditional filter make for a stronger, more flavorful brew that coffee experts savor.
Combination Coffee Makers
Combination coffee makers are multifunctional units that let you brew a single cup or multiple cups of coffee, cappuccino, espresso, tea, hot cocoa or iced drinks. Some even have an integrated milk frother.
Espresso Machines
Bring out your inner barista with an at-home espresso machine. Espresso, a concentrated shot of coffee topped with crema, is a flavor-packed drink that extracts the very best from coffee beans. Espresso elevates the coffee experience. The aroma, flavor, kick and frothy texture of crema all combine for the perfect at-home espresso experience.
Types of Espresso Machines
There are several types of espresso machines that cater to your needs and tastes. Do you want to be more hands-on? Do you want the convenience of pressing a button for that perfect cup of espresso? Are you looking for a lever-driven machine? Understanding the different types of espresso machines will help you make an informed decision when it’s time to purchase.
Manual Espresso Machines
A manual espresso machine offers a truly hands-on experience and is the original way to brew espresso, requiring you to generate the high pressure — at least 9 bars of pressure — needed to pass hot water through a tightly packed basket filled with coffee that’s finely ground. The hot water and high pressure extract more flavor from the beans. Many espresso enthusiasts believe the best espresso machines are manual as they allow you to control every variable needed for the perfect cup, from grinding the coffee beans to packing and tamping the filter basket.
Some manual espresso machines come equipped with a milk frother to add that signature foamy top. For machines that don’t have a frother, you can still achieve a nice foam with a separate manual or automatic milk frother.
Semi-Automatic Espresso Machines
A semi-automatic espresso machine is a little easier to use over the more labor-intensive action required for a manual espresso machine. While you’ll still need to grind and tamp the coffee, you control the shot timing. It’s the most common espresso machine for home use because it offers more control and consistency.
Automatic Espresso Machines
An automatic espresso machine is the perfect option if convenience is at the top of your list. It’s a one-touch brewing system. But the term automatic can be misleading. You’ll still need to grind the coffee beans, add the right dose to the filter and tamp the coffee. Then all you do is press the start button and the machine controls the amount of water that’s pushed through the coffee grounds. The machine stops automatically once it’s brewed the predetermined amount of espresso.
Hopefully we've given you an idea of what type of coffee maker might be the right one for you. Shop Lowe's for our wide selection of options.